When New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio is sworn into office on January 1st, he will be greeted with great expectations from voters. About two-thirds of registered voters in the city — 66% — are hopeful about de Blasio becoming the next mayor of New York City. 14% are content while 11% are disappointed. Two percent describe themselves as angry, and 7% are unsure.

“Coming off a huge election victory, expectations are sky high for what Bill de Blasio will do for the city as mayor,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “But, not all New Yorkers think that accomplishing his goals will be a slam dunk.”

By party, 72% of Democrats are hopeful about the incoming de Blasio administration. However, Republicans citywide divide. 43% are hopeful while 40% are disappointed. Nearly two-thirds of non-enrolled voters — 64% — are optimistic about de Blasio becoming mayor.

Regardless of borough, at least six in ten voters have a positive feeling about de Blasio assuming the role of mayor. Voters in Brooklyn — 71% — are the most hopeful. 67% of those in Manhattan, 64% of those in the Bronx, and 62% of voters in Queens and Staten Island share this emotion.

How will de Blasio impact New York City? Nearly six in ten — 58% — think he will change the Big Apple for the better. 14% believe he will make the city worse while 13% report he will not change New York City at all. 15% are unsure.

There is a partisan divide. While 65% of Democrats say de Blasio will improve New York City, 49% of Republicans think he will make it worse. 55% of non-enrolled voters say de Blasio will have a positive impact on New York City.

There are also differences by race and borough. More than seven in ten African American voters — 72% — think de Blasio will change the city for the better. 65% of Latino voters citywide agree. However, 49% of white voters in New York City believe he will improve the Big Apple.

Looking at borough, 65% of voters in Brooklyn believe de Blasio will change New York City for the better. This compares with 63% in the Bronx and 56% in Manhattan who say the same. In Queens and Staten Island, 51% think de Blasio will positively affect New York City.

56% of registered voters in New York City have a favorable impression of Mayor-elect de Blasio. 20% have an unfavorable view of him, and 23% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him.

Despite de Blasio’s strong favorable rating, it’s a long way from the campaign trail to City Hall. There has been a decline in the proportion of voters who have a favorable opinion of de Blasio and an increase in the proportion of those who have yet to form an opinion of the soon-to-be-mayor. When the Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll last reported this question in November, just before Election Day, more than six in ten voters — 64% — thought favorably of de Blasio. 26% had a lesser impression of him, and only 10% had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate de Blasio.

When it comes to de Blasio’s political ideology, 61% of voters believe it is about right. 21% think he is too liberal while only 4% say he is too conservative. 14% are unsure. In November, 56% of voters described de Blasio’s ideology as about right. 29% thought he was too liberal, and 4% said he was too conservative. 11%, at that time, were unsure.

Getting to Know You… Next First Lady of NYC Little-Known to Many Voters

Bill de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, needs to introduce herself to the New York City electorate. While 46% of voters have a favorable impression of McCray, 45% have either never heard of her or are unsure how to rate her. Eight percent have a negative opinion of McCray.

51% of New York City voters think the Big Apple is moving in the right direction. 36% believe it is traveling in the wrong one, and 13% are unsure. When the Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll last reported this question in November, 49% reported the city was on the right course while 42% said it was not. Nine percent, at that time, were unsure.

As Mayor Michael Bloomberg prepares to leave office after 12 years in City Hall, 49% approve of his job performance. This includes 15% who say he is doing an excellent one, and 34% who report he is doing a good one. 30% rate Bloomberg’s performance as fair while 17% think he is performing poorly. Four percent are unsure.

In the Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist’s November survey, 47% approved of Bloomberg’s job performance. 29% believed his performance was average while 20% said he fell short. Three percent, at that time, were unsure.

How will Mayor Michael Bloomberg be remembered? 50% will recall his time in office positively. Included here are 15% who describe Bloomberg as one of the city’s best mayors and 35% who call him an above average mayor. 31% will remember him as an average mayor while 10% will recall him as a below average one. Eight percent think Bloomberg will be considered one of the city’s worst mayors.

“Overall, after three terms, New Yorkers think Mayor Bloomberg has done a decent job,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “For most New Yorkers, he has been a commendable mayor.”

When this question was last reported in February, 44% thought Bloomberg’s tenure would be remembered fondly. 37% said his legacy would be an average one while 12% believed Bloomberg would be considered a below average mayor. Eight percent of voters, at that time, said Bloomberg would be recalled as one of the city’s worst mayors.

The clock is counting down to Election Day, and in this final NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll, Democrat Bill de Blasio has a very wide lead over Republican Joe Lhota among New York City likely voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted by absentee ballot. De Blasio has the support of 65% of likely voters while Lhota receives 24%. Independence candidate Adolfo Carrion has 4% while 1% of likely voters citywide wants another candidate to be elected. Six percent are undecided.

“Bill de Blasio continues to be the overwhelming favorite with New York City voters while Joe Lhota can’t get any traction,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Even a Peyton Manning fourth quarter comeback wouldn’t be enough to close this large gap.”

Among Democrats who are likely to vote, 79% are for de Blasio compared with 14% for Lhota and 2% for Carrion. In October, 82% backed de Blasio while 13% were for Lhota. One percent was behind Carrion.

When it comes to likely Republican voters, 71% are for Lhota while 21% are for de Blasio. Three percent support Carrion. In that previous survey, 69% of likely Republican voters backed Lhota while 16% were for de Blasio, and 1% supported Carrion.

Among non-enrolled voters who are likely to cast a ballot, 50% support de Blasio. 29% are for Lhota while 11% back Carrion. Last month, 58% of likely non-enrolled voters were for de Blasio compared with 21% for Lhota. Seven percent, at that time, backed Carrion.

Regardless of race, de Blasio receives, at least, majority support. Among African American voters who are likely to cast a ballot, 90% support de Blasio. Lhota and Carrion each receives 2%. 72% of Latino voters are for de Blasio while 10% are for Lhota, and 9% back Carrion. Among likely voters who are white, 53% support de Blasio, 39% back Lhota, and 2% are for Carrion.

Before last Wednesday’s debate, 65% of likely voters supported de Blasio while 24% were for Lhota. Carrion received the support of 4% while 1% wanted another candidate to be mayor. Six percent were undecided. After the debate, 65% supported de Blasio while 24% were for Lhota. Three percent backed Carrion while 1% were for another candidate. Seven percent were undecided.

“The debate season has come and gone,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “But, the debates this fall have done more to reinforce voters’ impressions of the candidates than to change the character of the race.”

How strongly do likely voters citywide support their choice of candidate? 61% say they strongly support their selection for mayor while 30% are somewhat committed to their choice. Eight percent might vote differently, and 1% is unsure.

When NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist last reported this question, 54% said they were firmly committed to their choice of candidate. 36% reported they were somewhat behind their pick, and 9% said they might vote differently. Two percent were unsure.

65% of likely voters who support de Blasio say they will not waver in their commitment to him. This compares with 54% of likely voters who back Lhota and say they are strongly committed to him. Last month, 56% of de Blasio’s backers reported they strongly supported him while 49% of Lhota’s backers had a similar level of intensity.

Among registered voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted by absentee ballot, de Blasio — 63% — is ahead of Lhota — 21% — by 42 percentage points. Carrion receives the support of 5% while 1% wants someone else to be elected. Nine percent are undecided.

Most registered voters in New York City think, regardless of who they plan to support, de Blasio will defeat Lhota tomorrow. 83% of voters believe de Blasio will win while only 8% think Lhota will be victorious. Nine percent are undecided. Even an overwhelming proportion of Lhota’s backers — 81% — think de Blasio will be the city’s next mayor.

About Two-Thirds Perceive de Blasio Favorably… Upside Down Rating for Lhota

64% of registered voters in New York City have a favorable opinion of de Blasio. 26% have an unfavorable one, and 10% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. In October, similar proportions shared these views. 65% of registered voters thought well of de Blasio. 23% had an unfavorable impression of him, and 12%, at that time, had either never heard of de Blasio or were unsure how to rate him.

When it comes to Lhota, 47% have an unfavorable view of him. 32% have a favorable one, and 21% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. When NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist last reported this question, 43% of registered voters had an unfavorable opinion of Lhota while 32% had a favorable one. 25% had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate him.

About two-thirds of registered voters — 66% — think de Blasio is the candidate who is better able to make the city more affordable for the average family. 18%, however, say Lhota is the candidate who will improve affordability in the city. 15% are unsure. Last month, 67% of registered voters thought de Blasio was more capable to make the city affordable. 19% had this impression of Lhota, and 14%, at that time, were unsure.

Looking at crime in the city, 48% of registered voters believe de Blasio is more likely to keep crime down while 32% think Lhota is better able to keep the city safe. About one in five — 19% — is unsure. In NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist’s previous survey, 52% said de Blasio would make the city safer. 31% believed Lhota was better able to keep crime down, and 17% were unsure.

What are voters’ impressions of de Blasio’s political ideology? A majority of registered voters — 56% — thinks his ideology is about right. 29% say he is too liberal while 4% say he is too conservative. 11% are unsure. In October, 59% thought de Blasio’s ideology was in line. 24% reported he was too liberal while 3% said he was too conservative. 14% were unsure.

When it comes to Lhota’s political ideology, 34% say his ideology is about right. 35% believe Lhota is too conservative while 8% say Lhota is too liberal. 23% are unsure. Last month, 35% of registered voters reported Lhota’s ideology was about right. 31% said he was too conservative while only 8% believed he was too liberal. 26%, then, were unsure.

64% of registered voters want the next mayor to move the city in a different direction while 31% want him to continue Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s policies. Six percent are unsure. There has been little change since NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist’s October survey. At that time, 66% wanted a departure from Bloomberg’s policies. 29% reported they thought the city’s current policies should be continued, and 6% were unsure.

So, how do voters think Bloomberg is doing in office? 47% say he is doing either an excellent or good job in office. This includes 13% who believe he is doing an excellent job and 34% who think he is doing a good one. 29% rate Bloomberg’s approval rating as fair while 20% report he is performing poorly. Three percent are unsure.

Last month, 45% gave Bloomberg high marks. 34% said he was doing a fair job while 18% thought Bloomberg’s job performance was subpar. Two percent were unsure.

49% of registered voters think New York City is moving in the right direction while 42% believe it is moving in the wrong one. Nine percent are unsure. When NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist last reported this question, 46% of voters thought the city was traveling on the right road while 46% said it needed a new path. Eight percent were unsure.

With just a little more than three weeks until Election Day, Democrat Bill de Blasio outpaces his Republican opponent, Joe Lhota, 67% to 23%, among likely voters in New York City including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted by absentee ballot. Independence Party candidate Adolfo Carrion has the support of 2%. One percent supports another candidate while 7% are undecided.

POLL MUST BE SOURCED: The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll

“This is a very lopsided contest,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Joe Lhota hasn’t gotten any traction to offset the Democratic registration advantage in the city.”

Among Democrats who are likely to vote, 82% support de Blasio while 13% are for Lhota. One percent supports Carrion. Last month, 77% of Democrats backed de Blasio. 13% were behind Lhota, and 1% supported Carrion.

Looking at likely Republican voters, 69% back Lhota. 16% are for de Blasio, and 1% supports Carrion. In September’s survey, 63% of Republicans were for Lhota compared with 25% for de Blasio. Five percent were behind Carrion.

Among non-enrolled voters, de Blasio has the backing of 58%. Lhota garners 21%, and Carrion has 7%. In that previous survey, half of non-enrolled voters likely to cast a ballot — 50% — supported de Blasio compared with 24% for Lhota and 9% for Carrion.

Regardless of race, de Blasio has a wide lead over Lhota. Among white voters who are likely to participate on Election Day, 57% support de Blasio while 33% are for Lhota. In September, 50% of whites backed de Blasio while Lhota had the support of 37%. Among African American voters, de Blasio has 89% to 4% for Lhota. When The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll last reported this question, 86% of African American voters likely to cast a ballot supported de Blasio compared with 3% for Lhota. De Blasio has a 62 percentage point advantage over Lhota among Latinos who are likely to vote. Here, de Blasio receives 76% compared with 14% for Lhota. Last month, 74% of Latino voters likely to participate on Election Day were for de Blasio while 11% backed Lhota.

How strongly do likely voters with a candidate preference support their choice for mayor? 54% strongly support their pick while 36% are somewhat behind their candidate. Nine percent might vote differently, and 2% are unsure. When The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll last reported this question, 54% said they were firmly committed to their choice of candidate. 33% were somewhat behind their pick while 13% said they might change their minds before Election Day. One percent, at that time, was unsure.

Among likely voters who are for de Blasio, 56% strongly support him. This compares with 49% of Lhota’s backers who are firmly committed to him. This is little changed from September when 58% of de Blasio’s backers said they strongly supported him while 47% of Lhota’s supporters expressed the same level of support for him.

Looking at registered voters, de Blasio — 66% — outdistances Lhota — 20% — by 46 percentage points. Carrion has the support of 3% while 2% back another candidate. Nine percent are undecided. Last month, 63% of registered voters backed de Blasio while 20% supported Lhota. Four percent were for Carrion, and 2% backed another candidate. 12% were undecided.

What does the contest for mayor look like when all fifteen candidates on the ballot are taken into account? Little changes. Among likely voters in New York City including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted by absentee ballot, 64% support de Blasio compared with 21% for Lhota and 2% for Carrion. Jack Hidary and Michael Greys each receives 1%. Erick Salgado, Anthony Gronowicz, James McMillian, Michael Sanchez, Randy Credico, Dan Fein, Joseph Melaragno, Sam Sloan, Michael Dilger, and Carl Person each garners less than one percent of the vote. One percent mentions another candidate, and 8% are undecided.

65% of registered voters have a favorable opinion of de Blasio while 23% have an unfavorable one. 12% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. In September, 65% thought highly of de Blasio while 19% had an unfavorable view of him. 16%, at that time, had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate him.

It’s a different story when it comes to Lhota. 43% have an unfavorable impression of the candidate. 32% have a positive view of him, and a notable 25% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. There has been little change on this question since September when 41% had an unfavorable opinion of Lhota, and 29% said they had a favorable one. Three in ten — 30% — had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate him.

How do de Blasio and Lhota stack up when it comes to campaign issues and candidate qualities? Among registered voters in New York City:

Two out of three — 67% — think de Blasio is better able to make the city more affordable for the average family. 19% have this view of Lhota, and 14% are unsure. In September, 63% had this impression of de Blasio while 20% said Lhota could make New York City more affordable. 17% were unsure.

When it comes to improving the city’s public schools, about two-thirds of registered voters — 65% — say de Blasio is the better candidate for the job. This compares with 19% who think Lhota is better able to improve education in the city. 16% are unsure. There has been little change on this question. Last month, 65% reported de Blasio was the candidate with the skills to improve education while 18% had this view of Lhota. 18%, at that time, were unsure.

63% of registered voters think de Blasio can better unite the city. This compares with 21% who think Lhota can bring New Yorkers together. 16% are unsure. In that previous Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll, 67% of voters considered de Blasio to be the candidate who could better unite the city. 19% thought Lhota was the candidate to do so, and 14% were unsure.

There has also been little change on whether de Blasio or Lhota has the experience to manage the city. 53% believe de Blasio is the more seasoned candidate while 29% think Lhota has the experience to take the city’s helm. 18% are unsure. Last month, a majority — 54% — reported de Blasio had the experience to be mayor compared with 31% who had this impression of Lhota. 15%, then, were unsure.

A majority of voters — 52% — say de Blasio is more likely to keep crime down while 31% say Lhota is more likely to do so. 17% are unsure. There has been an increase in the proportion of voters who say de Blasio will improve safety in the city. Last month, 44% said de Blasio was more likely to reduce crime. This compares with 35% who had this opinion of Lhota. 21%, at the time, were unsure.

When it comes to the candidate who is better able to handle the city’s finances, 49% think de Blasio is more capable. This compares with 33% who say Lhota has the advantage on this issue. 19% are unsure. In The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist’s previous survey, 45% thought de Blasio was the better candidate to deal with the city’s finances while 35% had this opinion of Lhota. 20% were unsure.

Among registered voters in New York City, 59% report de Blasio’s political ideology is in step. This compares with 24% who think he is too liberal and 3% who believe he is too conservative. 14% are unsure.

In September, 59% of registered voters said de Blasio’s ideology was about right. 22% reported he was too liberal while 5% thought he was too conservative. 14%, at the time, were unsure.

Among registered voters, 35% say Lhota’s political ideology is in line. 31% report he is too conservative, and 8% believe he is too liberal. 26% are unsure.

When The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll last reported this question, 32% of voters thought Lhota’s ideology was about right. 31% said he was too conservative while 7% reported he was too liberal. 29%, then, were unsure.

Information surfaced that de Blasio went to Cuba on his honeymoon and supported the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Has this knowledge impacted voters’ impressions of de Blasio? More than seven in ten registered voters — 72% — say it makes no difference to them. 16% report it makes them less likely to vote for de Blasio while 8% think it makes them more likely to vote for him. Four percent are unsure.

On most issues, 40% of registered voters think Lhota is not independent from the national Republican Party. 36% believe he is independent from the GOP, and 24% are unsure where he stands on most issues.

Among those who believe Lhota’s stance on the issues is tied to the national Republican Party, 39% are less likely to support him, and 54% say it doesn’t matter. Looking at those who say Lhota is independent from the national GOP platform, 42% would be more likely to vote for him, and 51% say it makes no difference to their vote.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stumped for Lhota during the primary, but his nod does not bolster Lhota’s chances in the general election. While 31% say Giuliani’s endorsement makes them more likely to support Lhota, 47% report it makes them less likely to do so. 18% think it makes no difference to their vote, and 3% are unsure.

Last month, 29% reported Giuliani’s support made them more likely to vote for Lhota. A majority — 51% — said it made them less likely to vote for him, and 15% thought Giuliani’s endorsement made no difference to their vote. Five percent, at the time, were unsure.

A partisan divide exists. Most Republicans — 72% — say a Giuliani endorsement makes them more likely to vote for Lhota while 8% report it makes them less inclined to support him. Among Democrats, 57% think Giuliani’s backing makes them less likely to cast their ballot for Lhota. 22% disagree and believe it will make them more likely to do so. There is little consensus among non-enrolled voters citywide. 35% say Giuliani’s endorsement makes them more likely to vote for Lhota, and 42% report it makes them less likely to vote for him. 20% believe it makes no difference to their vote.

About two-thirds of registered voters in New York City — 66% — want to move the city in a different direction from the Bloomberg years. 29%, however, want the next mayor to continue the policies of Mayor Bloomberg. Six percent are unsure.

When it comes to the job Mayor Bloomberg is doing in office, 45% give the mayor high marks. This includes 12% who say the mayor is doing an excellent job and 33% who report he is doing a good one. 34% rate his performance as fair while 18% think he is performing poorly. Two percent are unsure.

Last month, a similar 42% gave Bloomberg kudos. 33% gave him average grades while 22% thought he fell short. Two percent, then, were unsure.

The race for New York City mayor now turns toward the general election. Among likely voters, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate, Democrat Bill de Blasio leads Republican Joe Lhota, 65% to 22%. Independence candidate Adolfo Carrion — 3% — trails in third place. One percent supports another candidate, and 9% are undecided.

POLL MUST BE SOURCED: The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll

“Joe Lhota must attract many Democrats to be competitive against the heavily favored Bill de Blasio, and right now, that’s not happening,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “De Blasio is very well-liked and is cornering the market on most of the issues and qualities that matter to voters.”

Candidate support divides along party lines. However, de Blasio receives the backing of one in four likely Republican voters — 25% — while Lhota attracts merely 13% of Democrats.

By party:

77% of likely Democratic voters citywide are for de Blasio. This compares with 13% for Lhota, and 1% for Carrion.

Among Republicans who are likely to vote, more than six in ten — 63% — are behind Lhota. A notable 25% support de Blasio, and 5% are for Carrion.

Half of non-enrolled voters who are likely to vote — 50% — support de Blasio. 24% back Lhota, and 9% are for Carrion.

There are also racial differences. 86% of African American voters who are likely to vote and 74% of likely Latino voters support de Blasio. Lhota receives the support of 3% of African American voters and 11% of Latino voters likely to participate on Election Day. The contest is closer among white voters who are likely to cast a ballot. Here, de Blasio has the support of 50% to 37% for Lhota.

54% of likely New York City voters with a candidate preference say they strongly support their choice of candidate. 33% are somewhat committed to their pick, and only 13% might vote differently. One percent is unsure.

Looking at the candidates’ support, 58% of likely voters who are behind de Blasio strongly support him. This compares with 47% of Lhota’s backers who express the same level of support.

Among registered voters in New York City, de Blasio — 63% — leads Lhota — 20%. Four percent of registered voters citywide are for Carrion while 2% want to elect another candidate. 12% are undecided.

Nearly two in three registered voters citywide — 65% — have a positive impression of de Blasio. 19% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 16% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. It’s a different story for candidate Lhota. 41% have an unfavorable view of Lhota while 29% have a favorable impression of him. A notable 30% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him.

When it comes to Carrion, he is not well known to voters. While 23% have an unfavorable opinion of him and 19% have a favorable view of Carrion, almost six in ten New York City registered voters — 58% — have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him.

How do voters compare de Blasio and Lhota on the issues? In most areas, de Blasio outdistances Lhota by wide margins. However, there are two notable exceptions. De Blasio and Lhota are more competitive when it comes to who is better able to handle the city’s finances or who is more likely to keep crime down.

Among New York City registered voters:

67% of registered voters think de Blasio is the candidate who will better unify the city. 19% have this view of Lhota, and 14% are unsure.

De Blasio — 65% — is also viewed as the candidate who is more likely to improve the city’s public schools. 18%, however, think Lhota is the candidate who has the tools to enhance the city’s schools, and 18% are unsure.

When it comes to making the city more affordable, more than six in ten — 63% — believe de Blasio is more capable of doing so. This compares with 20% who have this opinion of Lhota. 17% are unsure.

62% of voters say de Blasio better understands their problems. 22% report Lhota is the candidate who is more likely to identify with their concerns, and 16% are unsure.

Which candidate will better lead the city during a crisis? A majority — 56% — thinks de Blasio will better lead during such a time. 30% believe Lhota is the man to turn to during a crisis, and 14% are unsure.

When it comes to keeping businesses in the Big Apple, 55% say de Blasio will do more to keep them in New York City. More than three in ten — 31% — report Lhota is the candidate who will make the greater effort to ensure businesses remain in the city. 14% are unsure.

A majority of registered voters in New York City — 54% — view de Blasio as the mayoral candidate who has the experience to manage the city. 31% have this impression of Lhota, and 15% are unsure.

However, de Blasio — 45% — and Lhota — 35% — are more closely matched when voters choose the candidate who is better able to handle the city’s finances. 20% are unsure.

Similarly, when it comes to keeping crime down, 44% of voters think de Blasio will do a better job while 35% have this impression of Lhota. About one in five voters — 21% — is unsure.

Many Voters View de Blasio’s Ideology as In Step… Little Consensus about Lhota

59% of registered voters in New York City think de Blasio’s ideology is about right. 22% believe he is too liberal, and only 5% say he is too conservative. 14% are unsure. When it comes to voters’ perceptions of Lhota, 32% report his ideology is about right. 31% think he is too conservative while 7% believe he is too liberal. Nearly three in ten — 29% — are unsure.

The endorsement of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani could do more harm than good for Lhota. While 29% of registered voters citywide say Giuliani’s backing makes them more likely to support Lhota, a majority — 51% — says it makes them less likely to vote for him. 15% of voters report Giuliani’s endorsement makes no difference to their vote, and 5% are unsure.

Not surprisingly, there is a partisan divide. Nearly six in ten New York City Democrats — 59% — think Giuliani’s endorsement of Lhota makes them less likely to support him, and only 22% say it makes them more likely to back him. Many Republican voters — 61% — view the Giuliani endorsement as a plus while 19% disagree. 46% of non-enrolled voters report Giuliani’s endorsement of Lhota makes them less likely to cast their ballot for him compared with 32% of these voters who see it as a positive.

68% of registered voters want the next mayor to move the city in a different direction while just 25% want him to continue Mayor Bloomberg’s policies. Seven percent are unsure. Among registered voters who want to see the city move in another direction, 70% support de Blasio, and 14% back Lhota. Among registered voters who want to continue the Bloomberg policies, 45% support de Blasio, and 34% back Lhota.

Stop and frisk is a Bloomberg-era policy many voters want to amend. 58% of registered voters citywide want the next mayor to significantly change the Bloomberg policy of stop and frisk. 36%, however, want the controversial policy to continue. Seven percent are unsure.

Racial differences exist. 75% of African American voters and 63% of Latino voters want the policy of stop and frisk to be overhauled. This compares with just 44% of white voters who share this view.

More than two-thirds of registered voters — 68% — agree with the centerpiece of the de Blasio campaign that the Big Apple is comprised of two cities. One is made up of people who are struggling, and the other is comprised of those who are doing well. However, 29% of registered voters disagree with this view and believe the city is one where people come together to solve their common problems. Three percent are unsure.

Education and the economy are top of mind for New York City voters. While 27% of voters in New York want the next mayor’s priority to be education, a plurality of voters — 39% — want the economy to be the new mayor’s focus. This includes 22% who want jobs to be the number one issue and 17% who would like economic development to be the priority. Rounding out the top five issues are housing with 8% and crime with 7%. Other concerns include poverty — 6%, taxes — 5%, security from terrorism — 5%, race relations — 2%, and transportation — 1%. One percent mentions something else as the next mayor’s top priority.

When The Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist Poll last reported this question in June, 23% wanted the next mayor to focus on jobs. 20% thought education should be at the fore of the new mayor’s mind. 12% reported economic development should be the key while housing — 8% — and security from terrorism — 7% — also ranked high on the list of priorities. Voters, at that time, were also concerned about taxes — 6%, crime — 6%, poverty — 5%, transportation — 2%, and race relations — 2%. Eight percent wanted another issue to be the next mayor’s priority.

With education at the top of the list of priorities for the next mayor, a majority of voters — 53% — wants to see taxes raised on higher income households to fund greater access to pre-kindergarten in the city. 40% believe the city should find the money within its budget to pay for it. Two percent do not think pre-kindergarten is a priority, and 5% are unsure. Opinions fall along party lines. While 58% of Democrats and 51% of non-enrolled voters support increasing taxes to pay for more children to attend pre-kindergarten, 58% of Republicans believe the money should come from the city’s budget.

When it comes to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s job performance, 42% approve of the job he is doing in office. This includes 9% who believe he is doing an excellent job and 33% who say he is doing a good one. 33% rate his performance as fair while 22% call it poor. Two percent are unsure. Bloomberg’s job approval rating is his lowest since August 2011. At that time, 39% approved of how Mayor Bloomberg was doing in office.

Given Mayor Bloomberg’s lackluster approval rating and the desire by many voters to move away from his administration’s policies, it’s not surprising that voters are ready for a new mayor. If Mayor Bloomberg were allowed and chose to run for a fourth term as an independent, Bloomberg would finish a distant second behind de Blasio. 56% would support de Blasio. 20% would back Bloomberg while 17% would support Lhota. Less than one percent would vote for someone else, and 7% are undecided.

But, overall, 61% of voters believe the city is better than it was 20 years ago. 23% say it is worse while 13% think it has stayed the same. Three percent are unsure.

There are racial differences. 71% of white voters report the city has improved over the last two decades. This compares with 54% of Latino voters and only 46% of African American voters who say the same.

Going into tomorrow’s primary for New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio has the support of 36% of Democrats who are likely to vote, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee. Bill Thompson battles the onetime frontrunner, Christine Quinn, for second place. Both candidates trail de Blasio by double digits.

Among likely Democratic voters in New York City, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee, if the Democratic primary were held today, here is how the contest would stand:

“Bill de Blasio leads Quinn among women and Thompson among African Americans,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “His campaign is being fueled by Democratic voters’ dislike of extending term limits, the policy of stop and frisk, and of course, the Dante effect.”

Just three weeks ago, Quinn — 24%, de Blasio — 24%, and Thompson — 18% vied for the lead among likely Democratic voters. In that previous NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll, Anthony Weiner received the support of 11% while 5% backed John Liu. Two percent were behind Erick Salgado while Sal Albanese and Randy Credico each received 1%. Less than one percent supported Neil Grimaldi, and 2% were for another candidate. 12%, at that time, were undecided.

From where do the candidates receive their support?

De Blasio does better among likely Democratic voters who are both white and liberal — 43%. He does well among likely Democratic voters in Brooklyn — 40% — and Manhattan — 40%. De Blasio also does well among likely Democratic voters who are African American — 39%, men — 38%, voters 45 or older — 38%, or those who consider themselves to be strong Democrats — 38%.

Although Quinn does not lead among any group of likely Democratic voters, she does well among those who live in Manhattan — 30%, those who are Jewish — 29%, or those who are white Catholics — 26%.

Thompson also does not lead among any group of likely Democratic voters. However, he does well among those who live in the Bronx — 26%, those who live in union households — 26%, and those who are African American — 25%.

How strongly do likely Democratic voters with a candidate preference for mayor support their choice of candidate? 53% strongly support their choice of candidate while 33% are somewhat committed to their pick. 13% report they might vote differently, and 1% is unsure. 55% of de Blasio supporters say they strongly back their candidate while 53% of likely Democratic voters who prefer Thompson and 51% who pick Quinn express a similar intensity of support for their choice.

At a lower turnout, among very likely Democratic primary voters in New York City, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee, if the Democratic primary were held today, here is how the contest would stand:

37% Bill de Blasio

21% Bill Thompson

19% Christine Quinn

7% Anthony Weiner

5% John Liu

1% Erick Salgado

1% Sal Albanese

<1% Randy Credico

<1% Neil Grimaldi

1% Other

8% Undecided

Looking at registered Democrats in New York City, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee, 33% back de Blasio. Quinn receives the support of 21% while 20% are behind Thompson. Weiner garners 9% of the vote while Liu has 6%. Salgado and Albanese each has the backing of 1%. Credico and Grimaldi each receive less than 1%. One percent of New York City registered Democrats back another candidate, and 9% are undecided.

Last month, 24% of registered Democrats citywide supported Quinn. De Blasio received the support of 21%. 16% were for Thompson, and 12%, at the time, were behind Weiner. Liu had the support of 6% of New York City Democrats. Two percent were for Salgado while Albanese garnered 1%. One percent backed Credico while less than 1% was for Grimaldi. Three percent wanted someone else, and 15% were undecided.

If none of the candidates receives 40% of the vote in the primary, a runoff will be held. How do the candidates fare in such a situation?

Among New York City Registered Democrats:

De Blasio — 56% — leads Quinn — 34%. 10% are undecided. De Blasio has opened up a lead over Quinn. In August’s survey, 44% of registered Democrats backed de Blasio compared with 42% for Quinn. 14%, at that time, were undecided.

Against Thompson, de Blasio also has the advantage. Here, 50% of registered Democrats are for de Blasio compared with 38% for Thompson. 12% are undecided. Last month, 44% backed de Blasio while 36% were for Thompson. At that time, one in five — 20% — was undecided.

“Bill de Blasio is within striking distance of avoiding a runoff, but he still has some ground to cover to pull this off,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “If there is a runoff, de Blasio starts as the early favorite.”

Quinn’s image has been tarnished in the eyes of many New York City Democrats. Less than one month ago, a majority of registered Democrats had a positive view of Quinn, but her favorable rating has continued to erode. In contrast, de Blasio is the candidate most positively viewed. Thompson also has a positive rating from a majority of registered Democrats citywide while Anthony Weiner’s favorability continues to scrape bottom.

About two-thirds of registered Democrats — 66% — have a favorable impression of de Blasio while 21% have an unfavorable opinion of him. 13% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. In NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist’s previous survey, 59% of Democrats thought well of de Blasio, 14% had a negative view of the candidate, and 26% had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate him.

When it comes to Thompson’s favorable rating, 59% have a positive opinion of him. 21% have an unfavorable view of him, and 20% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. In August, 56% had a favorable view of Thompson. 18% had an unfavorable impression of him, and 26% had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate him.

Just 46% of registered Democrats now have a favorable view of Quinn while 42% have an unfavorable opinion of her. 12% have either never heard of her or are unsure how to rate her. In August, 54% of registered Democrats thought highly of Quinn. 32%, at that time, had an unfavorable impression of her, and 13% had either never heard of her or were unsure how to rate her.

Only 28% of registered Democrats have a favorable opinion of Weiner. 64% have an unfavorable view of him while 7% have either never heard of him or are unsure how to rate him. There has been little change on this question since last month when 26% had a favorable perception of Weiner, 63% had an unfavorable view of him, and 11% had either never heard of him or were unsure how to rate him.

More than half of New York City registered Democrats — 52% — do not want the next mayor to continue the controversial policy of stop and frisk. 40% want the practice to be continued, and 9% are unsure. When NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist last reported this question in June, 48% of registered Democrats wanted to put an end to stop and frisk. 44% wanted the policy to continue, and 8% were unsure.

With which candidate do New York City registered Democrats most closely identify on this issue? 37% report de Blasio’s position on stop and frisk comes closest to their opinion. 22% believe Thompson’s stance on the issue best reflects their own while 21% think Quinn’s position on stop and frisk is closest to their view. Three percent believe another candidate is the closest match, and 17% are unsure.

While almost six in ten registered Democrats in New York City believe making the city more affordable is out of the next mayor’s control, nearly four in ten Democrats say Bill de Blasio is the candidate who would be most able to ease the cost of living for the average family.

59% of registered Democrats citywide believe the cost of living in New York City is beyond the mayor’s control. 35% think the next mayor will be able to make the city more affordable, and 6% are unsure. In June, 58% of registered Democrats said making the city more affordable was out of the mayor’s control. 35%, then, believed the next mayor could make the city more affordable, and 7% were unsure.

39% of registered Democrats have the most confidence in de Blasio to make the city more affordable. 24% say Thompson is the candidate best suited to take on the challenge while 20% say Quinn is most capable of improving the cost of living for the average family in New York City. Four percent believe another candidate would be best able to make the Big Apple more affordable, and 13% are unsure.

How many registered Democrats in the city think it is an affordable place to live? Just 12% think New York City is affordable. This includes 2% who say it is very affordable and 10% who believe it is affordable. A majority — 56% — reports it is not very affordable, and 33% say it is not affordable at all. When NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist last reported this question on June 27th, 14% of Democrats considered the city to be very affordable or affordable. 57% reported it was not very affordable, and 28% thought it was not affordable at all.

In 2008, term limits were extended to allow Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for a third term. When it comes to their vote for mayor now, do registered Democrats in New York City care whether or not a candidate supported that extension? While 52% report it makes little difference to their vote, 36% say it makes them less likely to vote for such a candidate. Only 9% report it makes them more likely to back a candidate, and 2% are unsure.

From the Stump to the Tube… de Blasio Gains Most from Campaign Commercials

A majority of registered Democrats — 51% — who have seen a campaign television commercial for de Blasio, Quinn, and Thompson think de Blasio’s ads top the charts. 20% say Thompson’s commercials are best while 16% believe Quinn’s campaign ads are most appealing. 13% are unsure.

What kind of an impact are these campaign television commercials having? 59% of registered Democrats who have seen an ad for de Blasio say they like him more after viewing it. 16% believe the information they gathered from the commercial made them like him less while 22% say the ad made no difference. Three percent are unsure. 73% of registered Democrats report they have viewed a television ad for de Blasio. 25% have not, and 2% are unsure.

When it comes to Thompson, a majority of those who have seen one of his television commercials — 51% — say the ad made them like Thompson more after they saw it. 15%, however, say it had a negative impact on their opinion of the candidate, and 29% say it made no difference. Four percent are unsure. 69% of registered Democrats citywide have seen a Thompson television commercial. 29% have not, and 2% are unsure.

While the television commercials for de Blasio and Thompson have been well received by registered Democrats, the same cannot be said for Quinn. Just 36% of registered Democrats who have seen a television ad for Quinn say it made them like her more. 33% report it made them like her less, and 28% say it did not have an impact. Three percent are unsure. 72% of registered Democrats have seen a television advertisement for Quinn. 26% have not, and 2% are unsure.

In the Democratic contest for New York City comptroller, Eliot Spitzer — 47% — and Scott Stringer — 45% — are in a tight contest among likely Democratic voters in New York City, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee. Less than one percent supports someone else, and 7% are undecided.

In NBC 4 New York/Wall Street Journal/Marist’s August survey, 54% of Democrats who said they were likely to vote in the primary, including those who were undecided yet leaning toward a candidate, backed Spitzer. 36% were for Stringer, and 1% was behind another candidate. Nine percent were undecided.

When it comes to intensity of support, 54% of likely Democratic voters with a candidate preference for comptroller strongly support their choice of candidate. 32% are somewhat behind their selection for comptroller while 13% might vote differently. One percent is unsure. 57% of likely Democratic voters who support Stringer are firmly committed to him. This compares with 51% of Spitzer’s backers who strongly support him.

At a lower turnout, among very likely Democratic primary voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee, Scott Stringer — 47% — is closely matched with Eliot Spitzer — 46%. One percent supports someone else, and 7% are undecided.

“Stringer has closed a once double-digit lead by Spitzer to make this a tossup,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “If turnout is low, Stringer’s chances of winning improve.”

Among registered Democrats in New York City, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate and those who voted absentee, 49% are for Spitzer compared with 41% for Stringer. One percent want to elect another candidate, and 10% are undecided.

In August’s survey, Spitzer had the support of 53% of these voters compared with 34% who supported Stringer. One percent, at that time, was for another candidate, and 11% were undecided.

46% of registered voters in New York City approve of the job Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing in office. This includes 14% who think he is doing an excellent job and 32% who believe he is doing a good one. 33% rate Bloomberg’s performance as fair while 19% say he is performing poorly. Three percent are unsure. Registered Democrats have a similar impression of how the mayor is doing in office. 44% approve of Mayor Bloomberg’s job performance while 54% do not.

47% of registered voters citywide think the Big Apple is moving in the right direction. 43% believe it is moving on the wrong path, and 10% are unsure. The city’s registered Democrats share this view. 47% are upbeat about the city’s trajectory, and 44% think it must change its course. Nine percent are unsure.

In August, 46% of registered voters said the city was on the right track. 40% believed it was on the wrong course, and 14% were undecided.

Nearly one in four registered voters in New York City — 23% — say the top concern of the next mayor should be jobs. One in five — 20% — believes education should top his or her list of priorities, and 12% say economic development is the key.

POLL MUST BE SOURCED: The Wall Street Journal/NBC New York/Marist Poll*

“The economy is top of mind for New York City voters and is sure to play a pivotal role in this fall’s general election,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “But, the city’s next mayor will also have to face voters’ persistent questions about the state of New York City’s public schools.”

What are the other issues on voters’ minds? Eight percent think housing should be the next mayor’s focus while security from terrorism is the priority for 7%. Six percent believe taxes are the most important while the same proportion — 6% — wants the next mayor to focus on crime.

Other concerns include poverty — 5% — transportation — 2% — and race relations — 2%. Eight percent of registered voters in New York City want the next mayor to focus on something entirely different.

When Marist last reported this question in February, education — 26% — and jobs — 26% — were voters’ leading concerns. Economic development followed with 17%. Housing topped the list for 7% of voters while 6% put crime at the top of the next mayor’s agenda. Five percent were concerned about taxes while the same proportion — 5% — thought poverty should be the key issue facing City Hall. Four percent believed security from terrorism should be the focus. Transportation — 2% — and race relations — 1% — were also reported to be important. One percent thought another issue should be the next mayor’s priority.

Majority Wants Kelly to Remain City’s Top Cop…Nearly Half Support Stop and Frisk

54% of registered voters in the Big Apple want the next mayor to keep Ray Kelly on as Police Commissioner. 34% think someone else should be appointed, and 13% are unsure.

Regardless of party, at least a majority wants to see Kelly stay on the job. However, Republicans — 72% — are more likely than non-enrolled voters — 52% — and Democrats — 51% — to express this opinion.

By race, nearly two-thirds of white voters — 64% — would like Kelly to keep his position. However, nearly half of African American voters — 49% — want someone else to be appointed. Latino voters divide. 45% say Kelly should be reappointed while 41% believe he should not be.

When it comes to the controversial “stop and frisk” policy, nearly half of registered voters — 49% — want the next mayor to continue the procedure. 41% do not want the policy to continue, and 10% are unsure.

Here, too, there is a racial divide. While 59% of white voters believe the policy should be continued, 58% of African American voters think it should be discontinued. Latino voters divide. 46% report “stop and frisk” should be stopped while 42% say the next mayor should continue the policy.

Nearly six in ten registered voters in New York City — 58% — believe making the city more affordable is beyond the mayor’s control. About one-third — 33% — think the next mayor will be able to make the Big Apple more affordable. Nine percent are unsure.

Do New York City residents think the city is affordable? Just 17% believe the cost of living for the average family is affordable. This includes 1% who says New York City is very affordable and 16% who report it is affordable. 82% think the city is not very affordable — 53% — or not affordable at all — 29%.

Will residents retain their New York City address? More than seven in ten residents — 72% — intend to stay within the city’s limits. 20%, however, say they plan to move someplace else in the next five years. Eight percent are unsure.

As Mayor Bloomberg nears the end of his term, how do voters think he is doing in office? 49% of registered voters in the city give him a thumbs-up. This includes 11% who think the mayor is doing an excellent job and 38% who believe he is doing a good one. 31% bestow fair marks on Bloomberg while 17% say his performance is poor. Three percent are unsure.

In Marist’s May survey, similar proportions of voters shared these views. 48% gave Bloomberg high marks while 30% reported he was doing an average job. 19% thought he fell short, and 3%, at the time, were unsure.

52% of registered voters in New York City think things in New York City are going in the right direction. 37%, though, believe the city is moving in the wrong direction. 11% are unsure.

There has been no change on this question since May when the same proportions of voters held these views. 52% reported the Big Apple was on the right path while 37% believed it needed a course correction. 11%, then, were unsure.

Half of registered voters in New York City — 50% — approve of the job Mayor Bloomberg is doing in office. Included here are 13% who believe Mayor Mike is doing an excellent job and 37% who say he is doing a good one. 32% give Bloomberg fair grades while 16% rate his performance as poor. Two percent are unsure.

There has been no change in Bloomberg’s approval rating since December when 50% applauded the mayor’s performance and bestowed upon him his highest approval rating since 2010. 33% reported Bloomberg was doing an average job while 16% said he fell short. One percent was unsure. Prior to Hurricane Sandy, Bloomberg’s approval rating stood at 45% in mid-October.

When asked how they will remember Mayor Bloomberg after he leaves office, 44% say his legacy will be a positive one. This includes 11% who say he will be one of the city’s best mayors and 33% who report he will be thought of as an above average mayor. 37% think he will be considered about average while 12% report he will be remembered as a below average mayor. Eight percent believe Mayor Bloomberg will be thought of as one of the worst mayors in New York City’s history.

Voters’ attitudes have changed little on this question over the past few months. In December, 43% believed the mayor would be remembered fondly while 38% thought his legacy would be an adequate one. 11% reported the mayor would be recalled as a subpar leader while 8% went a step farther and said he would be thought of as one of New York City’s worst mayors.

A majority of registered voters — 55% — believe New York City is moving in the right direction. 36%, though, say it is traveling in the wrong one. Eight percent are unsure. When NY1-Marist reported this question in December, following Hurricane Sandy, 61% were optimistic about the trajectory of the Big Apple. 31% thought its course needed to be corrected, and 7% were unsure. Before the storm in mid-October, 51% thought New York City was moving on the proper path.

When it comes to the next mayor’s agenda, 26% of registered voters think education should be his or her main priority. The same proportion — 26% — says jobs should top the list. 17% want economic development to be the next mayor’s focus while housing follows with 7%. Six percent think the priority should be crime while taxes and poverty each receives 5%. Four percent believe security from terrorism should be the next mayor’s primary issue while 2% of voters say transportation must be at the top of his or her agenda. One percent place race relations at the top of the list while an additional 1% thinks another issue is the most important.

When Marist last reported this question in September of 2009, jobs — 25% — and education — 20% — were also top of mind for voters. 17% of registered voters, at that time, believed that economic development should be the mayor’s top priority. Housing was considered to be the most important by 9%. Security from terrorism placed highest for 6% while taxes was the key issue for another 6% of voters. 17%, then, said another issue should be the mayor’s main concern.

Just 30% of registered voters are following the mayor’s race. This includes 6% who are following it very closely and 24% who are watching it closely. 44% are not monitoring the contest very closely, and 26% are not following it at all.

Five weeks after Hurricane Sandy pummeled the East Coast, nearly six in ten New York City residents — 58% — think the city was not properly prepared to battle the monster storm. 38% believe New York City’s preparation to respond to the storm was adequate, and 4% are unsure.

“For the most part New Yorkers say the city was not ready to handle the superstorm,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Despite this view, most are positive about the official response.”

Not surprisingly, residents who were most affected by the storm are more likely to say New York City was ill-prepared to deal with such a cataclysmic event. 77% of these residents have this view. This compares with 60% who were directly affected, and 56% who were not directly affected by it.

By borough:

In Staten Island, 61% of residents think the city’s preparation missed the mark while 36% say it was on target. Two percent are unsure.

In Queens, 60% have a negative view of how the city prepared while 38% have a positive one. Two percent are unsure.

58% of Brooklyn residents believe the city was not prepared to deal with Sandy while 36% think it was. Six percent are unsure.

Among residents in Manhattan, 58% say the city’s preparation fell short while 41% thought it was a result of proper planning. Two percent are unsure.

In the Bronx, 55% of residents report New York City was not ready to deal with the storm. 41% believe it was, and 4% are unsure.

What do residents think of how public officials and agencies handled the storm?

Seven in ten residents in New York City — 70% — approve of how Mayor Michael Bloomberg dealt with Sandy while 25% disapprove. Five percent are unsure. Among those who were most affected, 53% approve of Bloomberg’s actions.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo fares even better. Among New York City residents, 82% believe Cuomo took the right steps to handle the hurricane. 10% disapprove of his approach, and 8% are unsure. Even 78% of those most affected by the storm give the governor high marks.

81% of New York City residents praise New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for how he dealt with Hurricane Sandy. Seven percent disapprove, and 13% are unsure. Among those who were most affected by Sandy, 72% think well of how Christie dealt with the storm.

President Barack Obama — 85% –fares the best in the eyes of New York City residents. 13%, though, disapprove of his actions. Two percent are unsure. More than three in four New York City residents most affected — 76% — applaud the president’s response to Hurricane Sandy.

About two-thirds of city dwellers — 65% — think well of how Con Edison managed the situation. 28% thought the power company fell short, and 7% are unsure. Among those who were most affected, 55% are positive about Con Ed’s performance.

It’s a far different story for LIPA. Only 20% of New York City residents say the utility company’s response was on target. A majority — 54% — disapproves, and 26% are unsure. Just 19% of those who were most affected by the storm think LIPA did a good job dealing with it.

76% of residents in the city give the MTA a thumbs-up. 18% disapprove of how it dealt with the storm, and 6% are unsure. A similar 73% of adults most affected by the storm think well of the MTA’s actions to handle Hurricane Sandy.

Almost seven in ten in the city — 69% — think well of how the New York City Department of Education managed the situation. 20% disapprove, and 11% are unsure. Even 65% of those most affected approve of how the agency dealt with the situation.

Looking at the New York City Housing Authority, there is a divide. 39% of residents approve of how the agency handled Sandy while 35% disapprove. A notable 25% are unsure. Only 36% of those who were most affected by the storm approve of how the NYCHA handled Hurricane Sandy.

Nearly two-thirds of city dwellers — 64% — have a favorable view of FEMA’s response to the storm. 24% believe the agency missed the mark, and 13% are unsure. Among those most affected, 59% approve of how FEMA dealt with the storm.

87% of residents in New York City believe Hurricane Sandy mostly united people in New York City. Eight percent say it mostly divided them, and 4% are unsure.

However, when it comes to the allocation of aid post-Sandy, there is a split. 46% of adults citywide believe some neighborhoods affected by the storm were treated better by the city than others. 44%, however, think help was provided fairly. 10% are unsure.

Those who were most affected by the hurricane — 64% — are more likely to report an unbalanced distribution of assistance following the storm compared with those who were directly affected by Sandy — 49% — and those who were not directly affected by the storm — 43%.

By borough:

A slim majority of residents in Manhattan — 51% — believe some neighborhoods were treated better than others. This compares with 38% who say help was provided fairly.

In the Bronx, 49% of residents believe resources were not distributed well while 44% think they were not.

48% of adults in Brooklyn say some neighborhoods affected by the storm were treated better than others. 40%, though, think help was provided fairly.

In Queens, more than four in ten residents — 41% — report assistance was not fairly distributed while 48% believe it was.

Among those in Staten Island, 38% say the city treated some neighborhoods better than others, but 54% believe aid was given out fairly.

While most residents believe New York City has either returned to normal or will eventually do so, a notable proportion believes the Big Apple will never be what it was before Hurricane Sandy. 16% say the city has already recovered while 65% think it will eventually return to what it was. 19%, however, think it will never be the same.

Residents who were the most affected by Sandy are the most pessimistic. 30% of these residents think the city is forever changed in the wake of the storm. Still, 64% of these residents believe the city will eventually return to normal.

While Hurricane Sandy may have left a path of destruction behind, that has not broken the spirits of more than six in ten registered voters in New York City. 61% believe New York City is moving in the right direction while 31% say it is traveling in the wrong one. Seven percent are unsure. The proportion of voters who think the city is moving in the right direction is the largest since March of 2006. At that time, 64% of voters said the Big Apple was on track.

When NY1-Marist last reported this question in its October survey, 51% of registered voters citywide thought the Big Apple was on the right path while 38% said it was on the wrong one. 10%, then, were unsure.

Regardless of party or borough, more voters believe the city is moving in the right direction.

50% of registered voters in New York City believe Mayor Bloomberg is doing either an excellent or good job in office. This includes 15% who think he is doing an excellent one and 35% who say he is doing a good one. 33% rate Bloomberg’s performance as fair while 16% say it is poor. One percent is unsure. This is the highest job approval rating Bloomberg has received since October of 2010. At that time, the same proportion — 50% — gave the mayor high marks.

In NY1-Marist’s October 2012 survey, 45% of registered voters had a favorable view of Bloomberg’s performance as mayor. 32% thought the job he was doing was average while 20% said it was subpar. Three percent, at that time, were unsure.

By borough:

The mayor does best among Manhattan voters. Here, 67% applaud Bloomberg’s performance, up 22 percentage points from October.

46% of Brooklyn voters also think well of how Bloomberg is doing his job. In October, 38% held this view.

Among Bronx voters, 43% approve of how Mayor Bloomberg is doing his job, compared with 50% two months ago.

In Queens, 46% of registered voters give the mayor’s performance a thumbs-up.

Bloomberg and Giuliani Vie for Title of NYC Mayor Who Would Best Handle Hurricane…Bloomberg Legacy Intact

Although Mayor Bloomberg tops the list of mayors who could best handle a weather crisis, Rudy Giuliani follows close behind in the opinion of New Yorkers. 39% of adults in the city have this view of Bloomberg, 37% believe Rudy Giuliani would have best tackled the situation. Ed Koch is thought by 9% to have best dealt with the storm compared with just 4% who have this impression of David Dinkins. 10% are unsure.

When it comes to Bloomberg’s overall legacy, a plurality of voters — 43% — expect him to be remembered positively after he leaves office. Included here are 10% who say he will be thought of as one of the city’s best mayors and 33% who report he will be considered an above average mayor. 38% think Bloomberg will be thought of as about average while 11% report his legacy will be a below average one. Eight percent go so far as to say he will be remembered as one of New York City’s worst mayors.

There has been little change on this question since October when 43% of registered voters in the city believed Bloomberg would leave behind a positive legacy. 34% said he would be thought of as an average mayor while 12% thought he would be remembered as a below average one. Eight percent, at that time, believed he would be considered one of New York City’s worst mayors.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took a lot of heat over how the city handled the December 26th blizzard, and his approval rating reflects the firestorm of controversy. In fact, Bloomberg’s approval rating is at its lowest point — 37% — since taking office. Included here are 11% who say he is doing an excellent job in office and 26% who report he is doing a good one. 34% rate his performance as fair while 26% believe he is doing a poor job. Only 3% are unsure.

When Marist last asked this question in its October survey, half of registered voters — 50% — gave Bloomberg high marks. At that time, 14% said he was doing an excellent job, and 36% reported he was doing a good one. 30% thought his performance was fair, and 15% believed the mayor was doing a poor job. Five percent were unsure.

Looking at the boroughs, a majority of voters in Manhattan — 55% — approve of Mayor Bloomberg’s job performance while fewer voters in the other boroughs share this view. 39% in the Bronx, 36% in Queens and Staten Island, and 24% in Brooklyn give the mayor high marks. In Marist’s previous survey, 58% of those in Manhattan, 48% of voters in the Bronx, 48% in Queens and Staten Island, and 46% in Brooklyn thought Bloomberg was doing well in office.

“Mayor Bloomberg clearly will need a big shovel if he wants to dig himself out of this political storm, and it looks like the next opportunity is heading his way,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

Key Findings:

When it comes to how Bloomberg handled the snow removal from the recent storm, 21% of adults in New York City approve while more than seven in ten — 71% — disapprove. Just 7% are unsure. Regardless of borough, residents are displeased with Bloomberg’s handling of the situation. Residents in Brooklyn (78%) and in Queens and Staten Island (71%) are most dissatisfied. 69% in the Bronx and 63% in Manhattan are also unhappy with the mayor’s performance during and after the blizzard.

The New York City Department of Sanitation does not fare better. 21% of city residents approve of how the DSNY handled the snow removal while 72% disapprove. Seven percent are unsure. Again, disapproval spans borough boundaries. More adults residing in Brooklyn (77%) and in Queens and Staten Island (72%) feel this way compared with those in the Bronx (69%) and Manhattan (68%).

Nearly four in ten residents — 37% — think Bloomberg learned a lot from the recent snowstorm. 26% believe he learned a little, and 28% say he took away nothing at all from the experience. Nine percent are unsure.

The storm has had a slight impact on Bloomberg’s legacy. Almost four in ten voters — 39% — think he will leave behind a positive legacy. Included here are 12% of voters who report the mayor will be remembered as one of the city’s best mayors and 27% who say he will be considered an above average mayor in New York City’s history. 35% think Bloomberg will be thought of as an average mayor. However, 15% think his legacy will be below average, and 10% report he will be perceived as one of the city’s worst mayors. In Marist’s August survey, 46% thought the mayor’s legacy would be positive, either one of the best or above average.

Former media executive Cathie Black is the city’s new schools chancellor, and most New Yorkers don’t have high expectations for her. In fact, a notable 28% are unsure. 25% think Black will do a fair job, and 16% say she will perform poorly. Three in ten residents citywide — 30% — say Black will do either an excellent or good job in the position. Included here are 4% who report she will excel and 26% who believe she will do a good job.

Since Bloomberg’s tenure as mayor, this is the first time a majority of registered voters in the city — 53% — report that the Big Apple is moving in the wrong direction. However, 38% think it is traveling along the right path. Nine percent are unsure.

A majority of registered voters in New York City — 58% — think Mayor Michael Bloomberg is doing either an excellent or good job in office. 41% rate him as below average. Bloomberg received a similar rating — 59% — when Marist last asked about the mayor’s job performance in September.

Michael Bloomberg

Both Republicans and Democrats give the mayor high marks. 69% of New York City’s GOP say the mayor is doing an above average job as mayor. 60% of Democrats agree. Similar proportions within the two parties thought this way last month.

However, the mayor has continued to slide among non-enrolled voters. Currently, 50% believe the mayor is doing either an excellent or good job in office. In September, that proportion was at 56%. Two months prior to that, 65% of non-enrolled voters thought Bloomberg was doing an above average job in office.

Voters also believe the overall direction of the city is on track. 58% report the Big Apple is headed in the right direction while 33% think it needs to be redirected. These findings have slightly improved since Marist last gauged this question in September. At that time, 54% of the electorate described the city as being on the right course, and 38% saw it heading down the wrong road.